When a family looks for a church to become its home base, one of the main qualifications is a dynamic youth program. Parents want to know that their junior high, high school, and college aged children are going to feel engaged. This can be done through Sunday services, age-specific events, and youth group. The anchor to such a program, of course, is the youth pastor.
The youth pastor job description can vary, depending on the size of the church. The youth pastor, traditionally, coordinates fun, Christ-centered activities for youth, but also bonds with young people while helping them build a solid relationship with Christ.
Because of this, churches seeking youth pastor candidates need to make sure they do not select anyone for the position — this individual can be a key asset to keeping college aged folks from leaving church.
As important as this role is, many churches are having a hard time filling that position. It would appear that youth pastors looking for jobs should flock to posted positions, but that’s not the case. In a recent article, Thom S. Rainer, founder of Church Answers, posed the question: Where have all the student pastors gone?
Top reasons youth pastor jobs aren’t filled
- Budgeting for youth pastors has dropped significantly
When a church has to tighten its budget, one of the first positions go to is the youth pastor. Some churches combine this position with family pastor, giving the individual the task of nurturing children, youth and young adults, instead of focusing on just one age group. While this saves money, but can also be detrimental to the much-needed relationship building time a pastor needs to put in with youth. The family pastor cannot focus on the unique needs of teens when they’re also trying to juggle the needs of children and young adults, too. - The call to pastorship doesn’t include youth pastors
Many churchgoers have the belief that a call to be a pastor means a call to lead pastor or part of the teaching staff at a church. They do not see the youth pastor as an actual pastor because all they do is ‘hang out with kids.’ However, a high quality youth pastor who loves his or her students is just as important as a senior pastor. If the youth pastor takes their job seriously, they work hard to establish strong relationships with their students. That leads to open discussion and, hopefully, drawing nearer to God for students during one of the most stressful times in their lives. They literally pastor a young person towards a relationship with God. - Youth pastors aren’t taken seriously, even in their role
When someone is given the title youth pastor, they are immediately pigeon-holed into a ministry stereotype. The stereotype paints a picture of an immature person who doesn’t take God and faith seriously, and who goofs off before giving a lackluster 10 minute message that’s Christian-adjacent. For those who take youth ministry and their teens seriously, this can be an offensive stereotype that discourages them from picking up the role. They would much rather be known for their time in prayerful study and focused planning meant to draw young people closer to God. - Youth are looking for a more genuine experience
Studies have found that less high school and junior high students are attending church. With that in mind, those in church want to feel they have a true connection with a real, relatable person. So if a person who’s not fully invested is filling in the role as youth pastor, hoping for a chance to move on to another pastor position from there, they aren’t going to connect. They want someone who truly wants to be there as youth pastor, not someone there for a season. - Less schools offer youth ministry programs
Churches tend to pull from their own ministers and leaders to fill in as youth pastor. These individuals might have a theology degree, but not necessarily youth pastor or leadership experience. Because of this, more Christian college programs have stopped offering youth ministry courses, or have very few to pick from. This leaves young people who might be interested in developing that ministry with few educational options.
This doesn’t mean that churches should give up hope on their youth pastor search. Church leaders may have to invest in their own leaders, finding the person who truly has a heart for serving those who need God most: youth. Once they find someone with the passion, nurturing that drive to serve can be done by sending them for youth ministry study at a Christian College, and giving them the opportunity to grow the group the way God leads them.